Let's Hear it for the Girls!

Last week we talked about how equally important and difficult it can be to purchase thank you gifts for the groomsmen or males in your wedding party... but we can't forget about the lovely ladies! The ladies who have spent the entire time leading up to the wedding listening to all of your ideas, thoughts, frustrations, excitement, hopes, and fears deserve a very special "Thank You"!

There are so many ways to demonstrate your gratitude through gift giving, which is why it is vitally important to choose a gift that is personal and significant to the recipient. Additionally, we recommend avoiding the use of stereotypical gifts that have been over-exposed by the wedding industry. Don't get us wrong, flip-flops for the reception or jewelry to wear with their bridesmaid dress does get the job done... but these gifts pale in comparison to a unique gift that is thoughtfully selected.

That's where we come in! We love to help our brides put their thoughts into action by suggesting beautiful and thoughtful gifts ideas for the wedding party that will truly communicate how much each individual is appreciated.

Here are a few fabulous gifts ideas that our brides have used... all of which were such a hit with their friends!

If you're going to give jewelry, make it something personal, beautiful, and something they will cherish for years! This monogram cuff bracelet is the perfect combination of class and fashion... a gift that your friends really will wear and appreciate for years to come!

Adding a monogram to any gift shows that you went the extra mile to make it personal. This beautiful spa towel and slipper set is something that any of your friends would love to receive. This gift is timeless, functional, thoughtful-- and completely adorable! Function is a key consideration with your gift selection. Every time your girlfriend uses this cozy set, she will think of how much fun she had when she stood by you on your wedding day!

Personalized, hand painted wine glasses! We all love a wine night with our girlfriends, right!? This gift has it all... function, style, creativity, and class! And what great pictures you will have if your bridesmaids all use the glamorous glasses at your reception!

Celebrate your friendship with a personalized bottle of champagne! You can customize each bottle for every bridesmaid by writing individual messages that are etched into the glass, creating the most priceless keepsake long after the bottle is popped! What a heartfelt and fabulously fun way to say "Thank You!"

We hope you enjoy these ideas... but there are many more where these came from!

Allow us to help find the fabulous gifts that your bridal party deserves!

Great Groomsman Gifts!

Sometimes the greatest challenge that any bride and groom will face as they near the end of their wedding planning adventure is what kind of gift they will give their wedding party. They need to find the perfect gift that says, "Thank you for supporting me and standing by me on the most important day of my life... a day that I have video and photographical evidence of, and that I will commemorate with my spouse every single year of our lives"... no big deal, right? WRONG! This gift is sincerely important to many couples, and they want to make sure the gesture is thoughtful, enjoyable, and demonstrates a proper amount of gratitude.

As if this task isn't challenging enough, it gets even more complicated when selecting a gift for the males in the wedding party. Finding an appropriate gift that will be truly enjoyed by the guys, as well as one that WON'T break the bank can really be a problem!

This is where we come in! We have an endless list of ideas for groomsman gifts that we share with our brides and grooms to make this part of the process as easy and enjoyable as possible, while still maintaining the thoughtfulness and importance of the gesture!

Here are just a couple of our favorite ideas…

*Enjoy!*

Guys typically enjoy one of two concepts for gifts: funny/entertaining or functional. These mustache glasses are both! Our groomsmen enjoyed posing for silly pictures with these hilarious glasses as much as they enjoyed the beverage poured inside! These are memorable and make for amazing photos. They're also an item that your groomsman will keep and use again, which really adds value to the gift. A true win-win!

Channeling his inner Charlie Chaplin!

What professional male would not enjoy the functionality of a stainless steel USB drive key-chain? There are endless uses for these little devices, and adding a personal touch by engraving the cap with the groomsman's monogram shows that the gift was not randomly selected. This gift is functional, thoughtful, and will most definitely be used long after the wedding festivities have concluded.

Do you have a few sports fanatics in your wedding party? In that case, there would be few better gifts than a cooler in the color of their favorite team that is personalized with their name or monogram! Not only is this gift functional and thoughtful, but it's something that a guy would probably not purchase for themselves. Most of them probably tailgate with an old plastic cooler, but they will appreciate and enjoy having something personal and nice looking! You can even add some adult beverages inside the cooler for an extra surprise! SO cool!

For more ideas, contact us! ...We're here to help! :)

Planning Michelle's Wedding - Chapter 2 - The Wedding Budget

Even though deciding on the date and place really gets the wedding planning process off and running, the Wedding Budget should be the governing factor when a bride begins the planning process. Having a realistic goal in mind will help in every aspect of planning, and will help you focus your money on the things that are most important to you.

Michelle, a prepared girl by nature, came to our first meeting armed with a basic budget goal - a nice wedding for 75-100 people with great food, decor, drinks and entertainment for $10,000 or less, which means we will need to keep a close eye on every expenditure, and weigh each purchase carefully. I like to take the estimated goal and work backwards, subtracting along the way, so that we can see how much is left after the "want" list is plugged in, and determine ways to cut or eliminate as necessary. Helping massage the budget and negotiate the most for the money is a major benefit of hiring a professional wedding planner such as Shenanigans Weddings and Events.

A major piece of advice, other than knowing your budget, is being prepared with an amount you can spend on each item (such as flowers or photography) before you meet with the vendor. A quality vendor will steer you towards what will fit in your budget rather than trying to consume all your budget!

Next topic: Color & Decor Ideas

Mark your Calendars! Bridal Open House-May 16th , 12pm-5pm

Join Shenanigans Weddings and Events for a Bridal Open House to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Wedding Party Studio at their newest location in De Ma Fille Bridal Salon, 2964 Park Hill Drive, Ft Worth, TX.

There will be a feast of luxuries from your head to your toe(s)! Decor and design ideas, champagne, cake, spa treatments, exquisite bridal gowns and accessories, artistic renderings of your engagement rings and a chance to win a free honeymoon, just to name a few!

Best of all, meet the professionals that can take your dreams and turn them into your reality.